Mokhlesur Rahman, Inspector of Industrial Police at its Ashulia zone, told bdnews24.com that hundreds of vehicles snarled up on both sides of the highway.

He said around 1,800 workers of Fashion Knit Composite factory located at Jamgarah began demonstration around 8:30am demanding immediate removal of the company’s Administrative Officer Anisur Rahman and Accountant Mehedi Hasan.

Police and eyewitnesses said the workers became agitated when they saw a list of 115 terminated co-workers hung by the authorities in front of the main gate. They went on a spree of vandalism inside the factory.

At one stage, they took to the streets, blocked the highway and vandalised the vehicles defying police resistance. They also threw brickbats at the neighbouring garment factories.

The workers from Modinapel Sweater Limited, Harvard Sweater Limited and The Rose Limited joined them demanding an increase in their wages.

Police charged batons and fired several rounds of teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators.

Some of the injured workers and an injured woman police constable, Minoti Rani, were admitted to the Women and Children Health Complex in Beron while others were released after first aid.